Posted on 04/14/2003 7:45:39 PM PDT by Uncle Bill
Edited on 04/17/2003 6:40:21 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
As I Predicted, George W. Bush
Is Backing Bill Clinton's Gun Ban
TooGood Reports
By Chuck Baldwin
Chuck Baldwin Website
April 15, 2003
In this column dated December 17, 2002, I predicted that President G.W. Bush would support the so-called assault weapons ban first promoted by former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Diane Feinstein back in 1994. Interestingly enough, the gun ban became law on the strength of a tie-breaking vote by then Vice President Al Gore. The ban is scheduled to sunset next year, but Bush is joining Clinton and Gore in supporting an extension.
Presidential spokesman Scott McClellan said, "The president supports the current law (the Clinton gun ban), and he supports reauthorization of the current law."
This must come as quite a blow to people such as the leaders of the National Rifle Association who campaigned heavily for Bush touting him as a "pro-gun" candidate. Since his election, the NRA and others have repeatedly reaffirmed their support for Bush, because he is "pro-gun." Well, now the mask is off!
I have tried to warn my readers that Bush is not a true conservative. He is not pro-life; he is not pro-family; he is not pro-Constitution. And now we know he is not pro-gun.
Instead of reversing the miserable policies of Clinton/Gore, Bush is helping to harden the cement around those policies. The gun issue is no exception.
The so-called assault weapons ban was the benchmark piece of legislation reflecting the anti-gun policies of people such as Clinton, Gore, Feinstein, and New York Senator Charles Schumer. It was also the number one target of the NRA. In fact, the NRA all but promised their supporters that a Bush presidency would help reverse this Draconian gun ban. Instead, Bush is pushing Congress to extend the ban.
A bill to reauthorize the gun ban will be introduced by Senator Feinstein in the coming weeks. It must pass both chambers of Congress to reach the President's desk. The best chance of stopping it will be in the House of Representatives. However, in order to defeat this bill, it must resist the power and influence of the White House. This will be no small task.
Not only is Bush betraying the pro-gun voters who helped elect him, he is breathing new life into a nearly dead anti-gun movement. Most political analysts credit Bush's pro-gun image as the chief reason he defeated Al Gore in the 2000 election. They also credit the pro-gun image of the Republican Party for helping them to achieve impressive wins in the 2002 congressional elections.
Now, Bush is giving new credibility to anti-gun zealots such as Schumer and Feinstein and is helping to reinvigorate the anti-gun momentum that had all but been put on ice.
However, the real question will be, "Will pro-gun conservatives continue to support Bush?" Bush is every bit the "Teflon President" that Clinton was. Conservatives seem willing to overlook anything he does, no matter how liberal or unconstitutional it may be. Will they overlook this, also?
If you truly believe in the Second Amendment and are willing to do something about it, I suggest you go to the Gun Owners of America website. They have a quick link set up which allows people an opportunity to conveniently send email to the White House about this issue. Go to the gun ban "alert" button. From there you can voice your disapproval with the President's decision to betray his constituents by supporting this new round of gun control.
Once again, the ball of freedom and constitutional government is in the court of the American people. Will they keep the ball and do something with it, or will they hand it off to the neo-conservatives at the White House? We'll see.
PLEASE Don't Sit out 2004, EVEN IF Bush signs the AW ban extention
Bush Supports New Extension Of Assault-Weapons Ban
Bush Backs Renewing Assault Weapons Ban
"Thats why Im for instant background checks at gun shows. Im for trigger locks."
George W. Bush - Source: St. Louis debate Oct 17,2000.
MORE INJUSTICE ON THE WAY - Bush GUN CONTROL
"Gene Healy, a Cato Institute scholar, recently provided a thorough exploration of the unintended consequences of one law, the new Bush-Ashcroft plan to federalize gun crimes, known as the Project Safe Neighborhoods program. The unintended consequences of this law are frightening."
NOTE: Same Article in Washington Times.
"W. Wimps Out on Guns"
The Bush package includes several pet causes of the gun-control lobby, including $75 million for gun locks; $15.3 million for 113 new federal attorneys to serve as full-time gun prosecutors; and $19.1 million to expand a program by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms aimed at preventing youths from obtaining guns. Although Bush stressed that he simply wants to "enforce existing laws," the fine print of Project Safe echoes the gun-grabbing Left's call to ban the importation of high-capacity ammunition clips."
Project Safe Neighborhoods, A Closer Look
LAURA BUSH:
"During her San Diego speech, for instance, she said nothing about the school shooting that occurred 20 miles away in El Cajon the day before, although in a television interview she condemned it, adding that she thinks more gun control laws are needed.
"I think that's very important," she said when asked by CNN whether stronger gun laws are needed."
Source.
EMERSON & THE SECOND AMENDMENT
A Gutless Supreme Court Decision - Gun Control
Republican Leadership Help Push Gun Control
Bush's Assault On Second Amendment
NEA Resource Text Guide In Regards To The Extreme Right - Where Do Your Kids Go To School?
"The radical right says it is pro-life but it bitterly opposes gun control legislation"
or
Thanks for that Patriot Act George
Oh Good Lord .. I want a drink
Sincerity to whom? I don't just blindly follow, support or offer my sincerity to anyone or any party that does not fully support our freedoms, the constitution and our sovereignty.
Believe me or not, I have always suppported the Republican party, but for the past decade or so I have started to have my doubts about the sincerity of the Republican party and the direction they are headed.
This is not a bash, it's how I honestly feel.
Feinstein and Schumer Welcome President Bush's Support of Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization - April 16, 2003
"In a letter to President Bush, the Senators wrote: "As the original authors of the Assault Weapons Ban in the Senate and the House, we strongly believe that military-style assault weapons have no place on America's streets and should be banned. In 1994, we fought hard to win passage of the original ban, and shortly after Congress returns from the spring recess we plan to introduce legislation that would reauthorize it.
This is why we were pleased to see that your spokesman Scott McClellan reiterated your support for the ban and its reauthorization this weekend when he said, 'The president supports the current law, and he supports reauthorization of the current law.'
We welcome your support and look forward to working with you to gain swift passage of this legislation.
It's a sheer wonder that the United States didn't collapse during the first run of the ban. It surely will fall this time unless Congress wakes up and realizes our very freedom is in jeopardy unless I can buy a cheap Eastern European rifle with a bayonet lug.
When will they finally understand?
It's hysteria like this that won Michael Moore his Oscar.
I'll tell you who can, though. Howie Dean, the Democrat's best hope for '04!
On the one hand, he appeals to the extreme Left with his very vocal stance against the War in Iraq. That's all well and good for the base vote, ain't it? But he alientates the Democrats who support the war by the rage of his invective. Those Democrats who support the War in Iraq and the President Bush strategery for Homeland Security will likely also be the Pro-Second Amendment voters of the Party. They will like Dean's record on gun rights, but hate him for his anti-war stance. Those who hate the President and are willing to Puke for Peace love Dean's spewing on the war, but how do they feel about Dean's 100% rating from the NRA?!
Lookee what I found "...even I have to say "hold on a second" when an extreme gun rights organization ("we never see a firearms restriction we didn't oppose") like the NRA gives a Democrat such high ratings." (That's a Leftie talkin'on his blog.)
...and from a Dem chat room:
I'm for anyone but Bush, however I can't get overly enthused about someone who has a 100% rating with the NRA.
Posted by NebraskaDem @ 07/15/2002 07:29 AM PST
The rating is due to his being from a rural state that has never had any gun laws come up for him to vote on, not from his being rabidly pro-gun. He says it's a state issue, not federal, which is true.
Posted by myDD @ 07/15/2002 05:24 PM PST
I find it hard to believe he's never taken a position on gun control. The right wing NRA doesn't hand out 100% ratings for free.
Posted by NebraskaDem @ 07/16/2002 12:40 PM PST
Folks here on FR are getting all upset over something that hasn't even happened yet. Even if Congress raises a new AWB bill, it does not mean it will ever reach the President, and I pray it does not. Republicans who support the RKBA will vote for W. in '04, as they did in 2000.
I can't believe it's not butter.
Oh Good Lord .. I want a drink
OK, no more than a fifth of your favorite hootch. I don't want anyone to miss when we wipe out civilization...that is why we need a fully automatic AK-47. Keeping the Gov't in line is going to be difficult after seeing what they did in Iraq.
Oh Geez, a fifth would put me on the floor for the rest of the night
OK .. and what if congress over rides your veto?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.